Quartet supports Obama efforts, asks that settlement construction halt

Published today (updated) 25/09/2009 10:40

Bethlehem - Ma’an -

The Middle East Quartet urged Israel to “freeze all settlement activity, including natural growth; and to refrain from provocative actions in East Jerusalem” in a joint statement Thursday.

The statement asked the Palestinian Authority to “continue to make every effort to improve law and order, to fight violent extremism, and to end incitement,” and fully backed the tenuous re-start of talks initiated by US President Barack Obama.

The Quartet said the sit down between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas with Obama in New York Tuesday was a good start to direct, bilateral talks. It reminded partners, however, that “the only viable solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is an agreement that ends the occupation that began in 1967; resolves all permanent status issues as previously defined by the parties; and fulfils the aspirations of both parties for independent homelands through two states for two peoples, Israel and an independent, contiguous and viable state of Palestine, living side by side in peace and security.”

Israel’s Netanyahu has so far refused to put the final status issues on the table, however, and has also refused to institute a settlement freeze.

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